West Sacramento woman arrested for Yolo Courthouse fire

A woman was arrested Wednesday night in connection to the arsons that occurred earlier that day at the Yolo County Courthouse.

Vanessa Arlene Rivers, 24, of West Sacramento turned herself in to sheriff's investigators Wednesday night, accompanied by two Yolo County public defenders.

After participating in an interview with detectives, Rivers was arrested for arson and vandalism and booked into the Yolo County Jail.

Rivers is accused of setting fires at all four courthouse entrances between 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The fires caused minor damage to the entry doors and it was not until court personnel arrived Wednesday morning that the damage was noticed. The courthouse was closed until 10 a.m. while detectives and court administrators secured the building and investigated the damage.

The Sacramento Bee reported that around 6 a.m., security officers found charred wood pallets stuffed with newspaper at four entrances, leaving several doors damaged. The doors' card lock readers also showed evidence of tampering, said Yolo Superior Court Executive Officer Shawn Landry to the Bee.

The front entrance of the courthouse was blocked off with caution tape on Wednesday morning, several bailiffs indicating that someone tried to set the building on fire Tuesday night and that they were "airing out the building."

The courthouse reopened to the public and court staff at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, although the interior still smelled of smoke.

Fire Department officials were unable to comment on the fire because they were not called to respond.

Rivers' bail is set at $150,000. She is scheduled to be arraigned for her crimes at the courthouse on Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Department 9.